Communicating system

ABSTRACT

Stations accepting a vector from preceding stations in a sequence communicate data packets to other stations. Each station receiving the vector becomes spliced out of the sequence by communicating such a desire to the preceding station, which then provides for the passing of the vector to the following station. Alternatively, an individual station (not in the sequence) can be spliced into the sequence by communicating to all stations such a desire before any response from the next station. If the next station does not respond to the communicating station, the communicating station can splice the next station out of the sequence and provide for the passing of the vector to the following station. Some or all stations may be in a performance mode higher than a set-up mode. Any station preprogrammed to to operate in the performance mode may initiate the operation of the performance mode sequence when the stations are operating in the set-up mode. In each cycle, if no station in the performance mode requests a continued operation in such mode, the stations will revert to the set-up mode. If several successive stations become lost from the sequence, the sequence becomes patched by a special communication from each station to patch the next station into the sequence. In a start-up operation, a first station identifies itself by a communication to the other stations and the special communication in the sequence described in the previous sentence progressively patches the other stations into the sequence.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 488,728, filed Mar. 5,1990, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a system including a plurality of stationsdisposed in a logical sequence for providing a communication of databetween different stations in the sequence on a cyclic basis. Theinvention also relates to a system including a plurality of stationswhich are interconnected to form a local area and/or wide areanetworking system for providing a communication of data from eachstation in the system to other stations in the system. The system ofthis invention is particularly adapted to logically splice stations intoand out of a sequence without affecting the operation of other stationsin the sequence. This invention also relates to a method of providing acontrolled communication of data between different stations in asequence.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Systems for recording and controlling the creation of music have becomeincreasingly complex and sophisticated with the advant and developmentof digital computers and data processing systems. For example, a musicalproduct can be shaped by the use of systems including digital computersand data processing to provide sounds and effects not capable of beingprovided from the capabilities normally provided by any instrument orcombination of instruments.

Even though the systems now in use can provide sounds and effects notcapable of being normally provided by any instrument or combination ofinstruments, such systems have severe limitations in their use. Forexample, the systems now in use transmit data from different stations inthe system at a relatively low rate such as approximately 31.25 kilobitsper second. This limits the number of stations which can be included inthe system before undesirable audible effects occur. For example, whenten (10) stations are included in such a system, the delay between thecommunication of information from the first and last stations is audibleto the ear. When as many as twenty (20) stations are included in thesystem, the delay between communications from the first and laststations is objectionable. This can be overcome somewhat by providingparallel networks but it is not easy to construct or control suchconfigurations.

The systems now in use enable a plurality of music synthesizers fromdifferent manufacturers to be controlled from a single source at thesame time. However, the systems do not have the flexibility of providingfor the insertion of new stations into the sequence or of providing forthe removal of stations from the sequence without affecting at leasttemporarily the sound produced by such systems. Because of this, thesystems now in use do not have the flexibility which performers oftendesire and even require. For example, they prevent differentsynthesizers and master keyboards from being included in the system on aflexible basis.

The systems now in use also lack other flexibilities. For example,during the time that a system is being set up, different stations in theset-up mode may transmit data packets to other stations in the set-upmode. In this way, adjustments can be provided in the sound and soundeffects transmitted by the different stations to provide a balance inthe composite sound from the different stations. After this adjustmenthas been provided, it may be desired to provide for an operation of thestations in a performance mode where the performers at differentstations actually perform in producing music which is melded into acomposite sound. It may be desired to have not all of the stations inthe set-up mode included in the performance mode.

The systems now in use are not able to be converted easily from theset-up mode to the performance mode, particularly when only selectedstations in the set-up mode operate in the performance mode. Forexample, the systems now in use often require changes in the connectionsbetween different stations to be made physically under suchcircumstances so that an interruption in the operation of the systemoccurs.

The limitations discussed in the previous paragraph have been compoundedor aggravated because the instruments, such as synthesizers, at thedifferent stations have been manufactured by different companies andhave been provided with different data bases by such differentmanufacturers. This has required different programs to be used for thedifferent stations. Even with the expanded capabilities of current dataprocessing systems, it has been difficult for the data processingsystems to meld the different programs into an operative system.

There are other serious problems with the systems now in use. Forexample, several stations may inadvertently become simultaneouslydisconnected from the system. Under such circumstances, it has beendifficult for the systems now in use to adapt quickly to restore suchstations into the system. As another example, when the power to thesystems now in use has been turned on, it has been difficult for thestations to become programmed into the system automatically and quicklyin a particular sequence.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This invention provides a system which overcomes all of the limitationsdiscussed in the previous paragraph. The system of this invention isable quickly to splice stations into a sequence or splice stations outof the sequence in accordance with communications from such stationswithout affecting the operation of other stations in the sequence. It isalso able to splice stations quickly out of a sequence without affectingthe operation of other stations in the sequence when attempts tocommunicate with such spliced-out stations are unsuccessful. It is ableto change between a set-up mode and a performance mode in accordancewith communications from such stations which will be operating in theperformance mode. It is also able to return at any time to the set-upmode. It is able to restore stations into the system, without affectingthe operation of other stations in the sequence and without anynoticeable interruption in the operation of the system, when suchstations are inadvertently lost from the system. It is further able toconnect the stations quickly in a proper sequence in the system whenpower is first applied to the system in a start-up mode.

In one embodiment of the invention, stations accepting a vector frompreceding stations in the sequence communicate data packets to otherstations in the sequence. Each station receiving the vector can becomespliced out of the sequence by communicating such a desire to thepreceding station in the sequence. The communicating station thenprovides for the passing of the vector to the station following the nextstation in the sequence.

Alternatively, an individual station (not in the sequence) between thecommunicating and next stations can communicate to all stations, beforeany response from the next station, its desire to be spliced into thesequence. This station then splices into the sequence. If the nextstation does not respond to the station communicating with it, thecommunicating station can splice the next station out of the sequenceand provide for the passing of the vector to the station following thenext station in the sequence.

When stations in the sequence are in a set-up mode, only some stationsmay be in a performance mode higher than the set-up mode. Any stationprogrammed to be active in the sequence and to operate in theperformance mode may initiate an operation in the performance modesequence when the stations are in the set-up mode. In each cycle ofoperation in the performance mode, if no station in the performance moderequests the operation to continue in the performance mode, the stationswill revert to the set-up mode.

If several successive stations become lost from the sequence, thesequence becomes patched by a special communication from the stationpreceding such successive stations to include the next one of thesesuccessive stations in the sequence. This station then patches itselfinto the sequence. This process continues until all of the stations havebeen patched into the sequence. In a start-up operation, a first stationidentifies itself, and by communication to the other stations thespecial communication then occurs in the sequence described above inthis paragraph to progressively patch such other stations into thesequence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates the format of signals communicated between differentstations in a sequence defining one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 1A is a table indicating different types of information representedby the format shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 illustrates the time sequence for the transmission of the signalsin the format shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A indicates different registers included at each station in thesequence to provide for the proper operation of such station in thesequence;

FIG. 3 illustrates a first sequence of stations in a set-up mode andanother sequence of stations in a performance mode, the performance modebeing at a higher level than the set-up mode, and further illustrateshow a vector is passed to successive stations in each of the sequencesrespectively constituting the set-up mode and the performance mode;

FIG. 4 illustrates the relationship of the stations shown in FIG. 3 whenan additional station not in a sequence is to be spliced into thesequence and the relationship of the stations after the additionalstation has been spliced into the sequence;

FIG. 4A illustrates an example of the sequence of events for splicinginto the sequence the additional station shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 illustrates the relationship of the stations shown in FIG. 3 whenone of the stations in the sequence is to be spliced out of the sequenceand further illustrates the relationship of the stations when suchstation has been spliced out of the sequence;

FIG. 5A illustrates an example of the sequence of events for splicingout of the sequence the station shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 figuratively illustrates the interrelationship between thestations in the set-up mode and the stations in the performance mode,the performance mode being at a higher level than the set-up mode;

FIG. 7 provides a schematic illustration of the interrelationshipbetween the stations in a set-up mode and the stations in a performancemode when the stations are changed from an operation in the set-up modeto an operation in the performance mode;

FIG. 8 illustrates the relationship between a plurality of stations in asequence and further illustrates the interrelationship establishedbetween such stations when one of the stations is lost from thesequence;

FIG. 9 illustrates the relationship between a plurality of stations in asequence and further illustrates the interrelationship establishedbetween such stations when more than one of the stations is lost fromthe sequence; and

FIGS. 10A-10F provide specific examples on a timed basis of differenttypes of operations shown in FIGS. 3-9.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention includes a plurality of stations displaced from oneanother and operative to become activated in a logical sequence. Forexample, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of stationsdesignated as 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, n-1, n and 20 are displaced from oneanother and are operative to become activated in a sequence. As oneexample, different musical instruments may be disposed at individualones of the stations in the sequence. Alternatively, musical equipmentmay be disposed at certain stations in the sequence and controlequipment such as equipment for receiving data to provide for a blendingand shaping of the sounds from the different instruments may be disposedat other stations in the sequence. However, it will be appreciated thatthe disposition of musical instruments and controls at the individualstations in the sequence is only by way of illustration and that othertypes of equipment may be disposed at the stations in the sequence forpurposes far removed from the blending and shaping of musical sounds.

Alternatively, the same type of equipment may be disposed at theindividual stations in the sequence but different types of messages maybe transmitted from such equipment at the individual stations in thesequence to other stations in the sequence. These types of messages mayconstitute measurements of parameters such as temperature, pressure andhumidity. These measurements may be transmitted from each station in thesequence to other stations in the sequence to control the operation ofequipment at such other stations or may be transmitted to a centralizeddata processing station which then processes such signals andcommunicates with the stations to indicate how such stations shouldoperate.

In the normal mode of operation, the stations in the sequence becomesuccessively activated. For example, station 8 in FIG. 3 may beinitially activated by the passage of a vector to station 8. Whenactivated, station 8 may communicate a data packet to another station,such as station 12, in the sequence. Such a communication will bediscussed in detail subsequently. The data packet communicated fromstation 8 to station 12 may include data representing sounds from amusical instrument, or from musical instruments, at station 8.Alternatively, the data packet communicated from station 8 to station 12may be an instruction to station 12 to emphasize sound in a certainfrequency range or to mute sound in another frequency range.

It will be appreciated that data representing sounds are only one of amyriad of different communications which may be provided by the station8 and the other stations in the sequence. For example, although theinvention is specifically disclosed with reference to musical equipmentsand musical systems, it will be appreciated that the invention isintended to receive and communicate data, preferably in digital form,relating to any parameters, equipments and systems.

After station 8 has communicated the data packet to station 12, station8 communicates in FIG. 3 a packet to the other stations to activate aparticular one of the stations in the sequence. For example, station 9may be the next station in the sequence. Although the activating packetmay be communicated to all of the stations in the sequence, it may bespecifically directed in its coding to the station to be activated. Todistinguish between the communication of a data packet and thecommunication of a packet for activating a station (e.g. station 9), thecommunication of the activating packet to all of the stations, butinstead for a particular station, is designated as "passing a vector".The passing of the vector from station 8 to all of the stations occursthrough the transmission of information from station 8 in a form whichstation 9 can identify as the passing of the vector to station 9 byspecific information in such transmission.

When station 9 receives the vector from station 8, station 9 transmits adata packet to another station such as station n. This indicates tostation 8 that station 9 has received and accepted the vector. Station 9then provides for the passing of the vector to station 10 bycommunicating the vector to all of the stations in the sequence.However, the vector is specifically directed in its coding to station10, the next station in the sequence shown in FIG. 3. In this way, eachstation in the sequence progressively receives the vector and transmitsa data packet to another station, or other stations, in the sequence.

This invention is able to accomplish results not capable of beingaccomplished in the prior art. For example, as shown by double lines inFIG. 4, a sequence may constitute stations 8, 10 and n-1. When thevector has passed to station 10 and station 10 has transmitted a datapacket to another station, station 10 then provides for the passage ofthe vector to station n-1 by communicating the vector to all of thestations but specifying station in the coding in such communication.However, before station n-1 can accept the vector from station 10,station 11 can intervene and send a data packet to another station.Station 11 is able to intervene at this time because it is disposedbetween stations 10 and n-1. Station 11 then passing the vector tostation n-1 for the transmission of a data packet from station n-1.

Station 11 is thereafter spliced into the sequence so that the sequenceincludes stations 8, 10, 11 and n-1. In such a sequence, station 11receives the vector from station 10 in each cycle of operation andprovides for the passing of the vector to station n-1. This is indicatedby broken lines between stations 10 and 11 and between stations 11 andn-1 and by double lines between stations n-1 and 8 and between stations8 and 10.

The sequences discussed above and other sequences will be discussed indetail subsequently. For example, in FIG. 5, station 10 may be splicedout of a sequence originally constituting stations 8, 10, 12 and n (asindicated by double lines joining the stations) and subsequentlyconstituting stations 8, 12 and n. In the sequence shown in FIG. 5,station 10 is spliced out of the sequence specifically on the basis ofinstructions from such station.

FIG. 1 indicates the different types of packets communicated betweenstations in a sequence. Each packet is in a particular format. Forexample, each packet initially may include a "Preamble". The preamblemay be in a form to synchronize the transmission of information by one(1) station with the reception, acknowledgement and decoding of suchinformation by another station. For example, each preamble may consistof sixteen (16) successive binary bits each having a logic leveldesignating a binary "1".

Following the preamble in each packet in FIG. 1 is a "Flag". The flagmay consist of a plurality of binary bits in a particular pattern. Forexample, the flag may consist of six (6) successive binary bits eachhaving a logic level designating a binary "1". The flag may identifythat the transmission of pertinent information in each packet followsthe flag.

After the generation of the flag, each packet may include an "Address"designating the station or stations to which the packet is being sent.For example, different stations are identified in FIG. 1 as "FFnn","FEoo", "FDnn", "FBnn", "FCnn", "FFFF" and "gggg". The designation"gggg" indicates that the data packet is to be transmitted by thecommunicating station to all of the other stations in the sequence. Theaddress in each data packet may be in the form of a plurality of binarybits in a hexadecimal code. This format constitutes a world-widestandard well known in the art.

Packets with an "Address" of "FFFF" are to be received and processed byall of the stations in the sequence. An Address of "FFFF" is used forsuch functions as system timing information and sequencer controls. AnAddress flag of "FFnn" is used to implement the protocol of providingfor the passing of the vector. An Address of "FEnn" indicates thetransmission of a packet to a particular station, which thenacknowledges the receipt of the packet by sending a response packet tothis effect to the communicating station. The Address "FDnn" representsthe response packet which the receiving station sends to thecommunicating station to acknowledge that it has received the packetfrom the communicating station. An Address of "FCnn" is actually notbeing used at present but is being reserved for future applications. Ineach of the different Address, different designations between "oo" and"nn" are used to identify individual stations in the sequence.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the station providing the communicating packetmay next identify itself in a plurality of bits designated as "Sourcestation ID". This identification is stored in a register identified as"MID" (meaning "My Identification") in FIG. 2A. In FIG. 1, each of thedifferent examples is identified as being transmitted by a singlesource. This source is identified in FIG. 1 as "ss". It will beappreciated that different designations may be provided for theindividual stations in the portion of each packet identified as "SourceStation ID".

Particular information identified as "Packet Type" in FIG. 1 is thentransmitted in each packet to indicate the type of packet beingcommunicated. For example, the particular information may indicate thatthe communicating station desires to be spliced into the sequence orthat it desires to be spliced out of the sequence. The particularinformation identified as "Packet Type" may also indicate the speed ofresponse of the communicating station. This is indicated by thedesignation "pd" in FIG. 1. Each station in the sequence may have anindividual speed of response and this speed of response may be differentfrom the speed of response of the other stations in the sequence. Thesystem then adjusts its speed of response automatically to the stationhaving the lowest speed of response in the sequence.

The particular information identified as "Packet Type" in each packetmay also provide a wide variety of other indications. These are numberedin FIG. 1 as "0"-"225" in the column under the portion of thecommunication identified as "Packet Type". For example, the numeral "4"may designate the operation of a tape transport. As another example, thenumeral "2" may designate "MIDI" (events, real-time, system, SYSEX). Theterm "MIDI" refers to a system now in widespread use for providing adigital control on a remote basis over the operation of musicalsynthesizers. Such a system does not have a number of the featuresdisclosed and claimed for the system of this invention.

The "Packet Type" may also identify in coded form a "Real Time Vector"("RTV") indicated in FIGS. 1 and 1A. The Real Time Vector indicates thatinformation such as numerical information is being transmitted in thefollowing portion (designated as "Packet Data") in each packet. ThisReal Time Vector may be further defined in the "Packet Data" (theportion of the packet following the "Packet Type") by a zero (0), a one(1) or a number of data bytes. The data bytes are identifiedschematically in FIG. 1 as "ddd . . . ddd" to indicate that the numberof data bytes is variable for each packet communicated from a station inthe sequence to one or more of the other stations in the sequence. Theletter "d" symbolically indicates that any value can be provided in thesequence designated as "ddd . . . ddd".

After the vector has been passed from a station in the sequence to thenext station in the sequence, (e.g. from station 8 to station 9 in FIG.3), the station (e.g. station 9) receiving the vector communicatescertain information in the portion of each communication designated as"Packet Data". This portion of the communication follows the portion ofthe communication identified as "Packet Type" information in the "PacketData". For example, it provides information designated as "pmi" in FIGS.1 and 1A. This identifies whether the station (e.g. station 9) receivingthe vector will be one of the active stations in the sequence at level"pmi", when the level "pmi" should become active. It also identifies, asby the designation "pma" in FIGS. 1 and 1A, the mode (or hierarchy) ofthe ring in which the different stations are currently operating. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 6, a set-up mode may be used while the soundsfrom the instruments at the different stations are being blended andshaped by the data transmitted between stations. A performance mode maybe used after the sounds of the instruments at the different stationshave been blended and shaped and the performance is about to begin.Generally, the number of stations in the performance mode is less thanthe number of stations in the set-up mode. The "pma" code identifies theparticular mode in which the station (e.g. station 9) passing the vectoris operating.

It will be appreciated that the "pmi" and "pma" codes appear in the"Data Packet" when one station communicates a vector to all of the otherstations but identifies in the vector packet that a particular one ofthe stations is to receive the vector. It will also be appreciated thatthere may be more than two (2) modes without departing from the scope ofthe invention. For example, sixteen (16) different modes may be providedthrough the use of four (4) binary bits having individual patterns ofoperation to represent the different modes. It will be furtherappreciated that a transition can be made from any of the modes to anyother one of the modes by selecting individual patterns for the four (4)binary bits.

After the communication of the "Packet Data", a plurality of bits aregenerated in each packet. These bits are indicated in FIG. 1 by theportion of the packet designated as "Cycle Redundency Sum" and areillustratively identified in FIG. 1 as "cccc". These bits are used tocheck the bits previously generated in each packet and indicate fromsuch check whether all of the bits required to be generated in each ofthe previous portions of the packet have been properly generated. Acycle redundency verify to check the proper generation of the previousbits is well known in the art.

Each packet includes a flag at the end of the packet. This flag mayinclude a plurality of bits in a particular format. This format mayillustratively constitute a sequence of six (6) binary 1's. The flag atthe end of the packet indicates that the generation of the packet hasbeen completed.

To separate the generation of successive packets, an idle period isimposed after each such generation. This idle period insures that thegeneration and processing of information in each packet will be separatefrom the generation and processing of information in other packets sothat there will be no interference or conglomeration between theinformation in different packets. This idle period may be represented bythe generation of a plurality of bits in a particular format. Forexample, the idle period may be represented by the generation of sixteen(16) successive binary 1's.

FIG. 2 indicates the generation of successive packets and thesignificance of such successive generations. As previously indicated,each packet is generated at a particular rate controlled by the stationin the sequence with the slowest response time. The particular rate mayalso be dependent upon the length of the lines between the differentstations in the sequence. This delay time may be quite long since onestation in a sequence may illustratively be in Los Angeles and anotherstation in the sequence may illustratively be in Kansas City. The timefor the generation of each packet is designated as the "process delaytime" and is identified as "pd" in such drawings as FIGS. 1, 1A and 2.The process delay time for the generation of each packet mayillustratively be one hundred microseconds (100 μsec.).

As shown in FIG. 2, a station (e.g. station 8) may initiate thegeneration of a packet to another station (e.g. station 9) at zeroprocess delay time (0 pd). This packet may constitute the generation ofdata or the generation of a vector which may be broadly considered asone form of data. Station 9 does not acknowledge the receipt of thispacket until after a particular period of time such as one process delaytime (1 pd). This acknowledgement is provided by the communication of adata packet by station 9 to another station, a group of stations or allof the stations in the sequence. This is indicated in FIG. 2 by thedesignation "Vector/Data". This represents a period of two process delaytime (2 pd) after station 8 has completed the transmission of the packetto station 9. The data packet may also constitute the transmission of avector if station 9 does not have to, or does not wish to, transmit datato another station.

Each station identifies in a register the next station in a sequence.This register is identified in FIG. 2A as "NID" (meaning "NextIdentification"). Furthermore, each station receiving a vectoridentifies the station passing the vector. This identification is madein a register identified in FIG. 2A as "PID" (meaning "PreviousIdentification"). Each station also has a register identified in FIG. 2Aas "PNID". This indicates the next station in the sequence with anoperation in the performance mode.

FIG. 3 indicates a plurality of stations in a set-up mode. Thesestations illustratively include stations 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, n-1, n and20. The stations are in the set-up mode to make certain that thestations are all operating properly. The stations are also often in theset-up mode to provide for a processing of the data, such as datarepresenting sounds from the different stations to blend and shape suchsounds.

It will be appreciated that each station (e.g. station 8) in the set-upmode provides for the passing of the vector to the next station (e.g.station 9) in the set-up mode in FIG. 3. The provision for the passingof the vector is indicated at "FF" in the address in FIG. 1 and thestation receiving the vector is generally identified by the designation"nn" following the code "FF" for the provision of the passaging of thevector.

After receiving the vector, each station in FIG. 3 is also able totransmit a "data packet" to any other individual station in thesequence. The address portion of the data packet in FIG. 1 indicates thestation or station receiving such data packet. The designation "nn"following the designation "FE" in FIG. 1 indicates on a general basisthe particular station to which the data packet is being communicated.Alternatively, each station receiving the vector is able to communicatea data packet to a selective group of stations in the sequence. Forexample, station 8 may communicate a data packet to all of the stationswhere a guitar is located. This is indicated at "gggg" in FIG. 1. As afurther alternative, each station may communicate a data packet to allof the other stations in the sequence. This is indicated at "FFFF" inFIG. 1. This is designated as a "broadcast" mode.

When a station (e.g. station 12) individually receives a data packetfrom a communicating station (e.g. station 8), it responds after aparticular period such as one process delay time (1 pd). This responsefrom station 12 acknowledges to station 8 that it has received the datapacket. The acknowledgement of the receipt of a data packet by areceiving station (e.g. station 12) to a communicating station (e.g.station 8) is indicated in FIG. 1 by a designation such as "FD" in theaddress portion of the packet transmitted by station 12 to station 8.This is followed in the Address by bits (generally designated as nn inFIG. 1) identifying the station 8.

An example of the acknowledgement of a communication of a data packet isalso indicated in FIG. 10A. In FIG. 10A, a vector passes from station 15to station 1. After a delay of two process delay times (2 pd), station 1communicates a data packet individually to station 7. After anadditional delay of two process delay times (2 pd), station 7acknowledges to station 1 that it has received the data packet fromstation 1. Two process delay times (2 pd) later, station 1 provides forthe passing of the vector to station 2.

FIG. 10B illustrates the multicast of a data packet from a station to aspecialized group of stations designated as stations gggg and the timesequence involved in such a broadcast. In FIG. 10B, a vector passes fromstation 4 to station 5. After a delay of two process delay times (2 pd),station 5 communicates a data packet to the stations in the selectedgroup gggg. As previously described, the selected group may beillustratively be those stations having a guitar located at thestations. Since a group of stations is involved and particularly sincethe group may be large, the stations in the group gggg do notacknowledge to station 5 that they have received the data packet fromstation 5. Instead, after an additional period such as one process delaytime (1 pd), station 5 provides for the passing of the vector to station6.

As previously indicated, a communicating station may sometimes broadcasta data packet to all of the other stations in a sequence. Under suchcircumstances, the stations receiving the vector do not communicate tothe communicating station that they have received the data packet.Instead, after an additional delay period such as one process delay time(1 pd), the communicating station provides for the passage of the vectorto the next station in the sequence.

FIG. 3 indicates a group of stations 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, n-1 and noperative in a set-up mode. This is indicated in FIG. 3 by solid linesextending between successive pairs of stations in the sequenceconstituting the set-up mode. FIG. 3 also indicates a group of stationsoperative in the performance mode. Since the performance mode isgenerally at a higher level than the set-up mode, not all of thestations in the set-up mode are included in the performance mode. Thestations in the performance mode in FIG. 3 constitute stations 8, 10 andn-1. The stations in the performance mode are indicated in FIG. 3 bybroken lines extending between the stations. As described previously andwill be as described in detail subsequently, operations may be providedin the set-up mode and in the performance mode at different times.

FIG. 4 also illustrates, by single lines between stations, the stationsoperating in the set-up mode and further illustrates, by double lines,the stations operating in the performance mode. Assume for thesubsequent discussion in this paragraph and the following paragraphsthat the stations in FIG. 4 are operating in the performance mode. Thesestations constitute stations 8, 10 and n-1. When the vector has passedto station 10 and station 10 has communicated a data packet to one orboth of the other stations in the performance mode, station 10 thenprovides for the passing of the vector to station n-1. Station n-1 wouldnormally communicate a data packet to another station, as otherstations, in the sequence after two process delay times (2 pd) discussedabove (and as shown in FIG. 2 by the indication "vector/data" at 2 pd).However, after one process delay time (1 pd), any station betweenstation 10 and station n-1 has the right to send a data packet that itwishes to be spliced into the sequence. This time splice is indicated inFIG. 2 by the word "splice" adjacent the time delay indicated at oneprocess delay time (1 pd). The splicing station directs a splice packetto station 10 to cause station 10 to modify its next identification(NID) station information to specify such splicing station.

In the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A, station 11 provides acommunication after one process delay time (1 pd) that it wishes to bespliced into the sequence. Furthermore, in the example shown in FIGS.4A, station 11 communicates a data packet to a special group ofstations, such as stations "gggg", with individual characteristicscommon to the group. Station 11 then provides for the passing of thevector to station n-1. Thereafter station 11 is included in theperformance mode. As a result, station 10 thereafter provides for thepassing of the vector to station 11 and station 11 provides for thepassing of the vector to station n-1. This is indicated in FIG. 4 by abroken line extending between stations 10 and 11 and by another brokenline extending between stations 11 and n-1.

FIG. 10C illustrates another example of a splice-in transaction andfurther illustrates the time sequence for this transaction. In thesplice-in transaction of FIG. 10C, station 9 provides for the passing ofthe vector to station 12. After one process delay time (1 pd), station11 sends a data packet to a special group of stations gggg having commoncharacteristics different from the other stations in the sequence. Thisdata packet consists of a Real Time Vector of n data bytes designated as"ddd . . . ddd". After two (2) additional process delay times (2 pd),station 11 provides for the passing of the vector to station 12. Station11 is thereafter spliced into the station. Station 11 accordinglyreceives the vector from station 8 and station 12 subsequently receivesthe vector from station 11.

FIGS. 5 and 5A illustrate an example where a station is spliced out of asequence by a voluntary and positive action of that station. In theexample shown in FIG. 5, stations 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, n-1, n and 20 areshown by single lines between pairs of successive stations asconstituting a sequence in the set-up mode. Stations 8, 10, 12 and n areshown by double lines in FIG. 5 as constituting a sequence in theperformance mode. The line between stations 10 and 12 in this sequenceis shown in broken lines since station 12 is to be voluntarily andpositively spliced out of the system. For the purposes of the example inFIGS. 5 and 5A, assume that the stations are in the performance mode,that the vector has passed to station 8 and that station 8 provides forthe passing of the vector to station 10. Assume also that station 10does not wish to be included any longer in the sequence constituting theperformance mode.

When station 10 receives the vector in the example shown in FIGS. 5 and5A, it sends a data packet back to that it no longer wishes to beincluded in the performance mode sequence. This data packet furtherindicates that station 8 should subsequently provide for the passing ofthe vector to station 12. Station 8 than provides for the passing of thevector to station 12 and station 12 accepts the vector from station 8 bycommunicating a data packet to another station. The performance modesequence then consists of stations 8, 12 and n, as indicated by thedouble lines between stations 12 and n and between stations n and 8 andas indicated by the single line between stations 8 and 12.

An example of a splice-out transaction is also shown in FIG. 10D, whichalso shows the time sequence for the transaction. In FIG. 10D, station12 initially receives the vector from from station 9. Station 12 thenattempts to provide for the passing of the vector to station 15 aftertwo process delay times (2 pd). After two additional (2) process delaytimes, station 15 communicates a data packet that station 12 shouldprovide for the passing of the vector to station 20. After two furtherprocess delay times (2 pd), station 20 accepts the vector from station20 by communicating a data packet to another station.

It may sometimes happen that a station is lost from the sequence. Thisis illustrated in the example shown in FIG. 8. In the example shown inFIG. 8, a sequence initially consists of stations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7and 8. When the vector passes from station 1 to station 2, station 2communicates a data packet to one or more of the other stations in thesequence and then attempts to provide for the passing of the vector tostation 3. However, for one reason or another, station 3 may betemporarily or permanently out of the sequence. For example, the powerto station 3 may be temporarily interrupted or there may be amalfunction of equipment at station 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, station 3 would normally respond, after two processdelay times (2 pd) from the passage of the vector from station 2, bycommunicating a data packet to another station or passing the vector.Since station 3 is incapable of communicating a data packet to anotherstation because of a power loss or a malfunction, station 3 does notprovide such a communication. Station 2 then provides for the passing ofthe vector again to station 3 after an additional period of two processdelay times (2 pd).

If station 3 does not respond after such additional period of two (2)process delay times, station 2 again provides for the passing of thevector to station 3 for a third (3rd) time. If station 3 does notrespond within two (2) process delay times from the third (3d)communication of the vector from station 2, station 4 may communicate adata packet that station 2 should pass the vector to station 4. Station2 then splices station 3 out of the sequence and provides for thepassing of the vector to station 4. Thus, after a total period of eight(8) process delay times (6 pd), station 4 communicates a data packet toanother station. When station 2 thereafter splices station 3 out of thesequence, the system in FIG. 8 includes stations 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

It may occasionally happen that two (2) or more successive stations in asequence are involuntarily lost temporarily or permanently from asequence. For example, some one may have involuntarily or inadvertentlyopened a master switch controlling the operation of more than onesuccessive station in a sequence. An example of this is shown in FIG. 9where stations 3 and 4 are temporarily or permanently lost from asequence initially consisting of stations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Ifthe example of FIG. 9 corresponded to the example of FIG. 8, station 3would communicate with station 1 after station 1 attempted to providefor the passing of the vector to station 2 for three (3) successiveperiods each of two process delay times (2 pd) and station 2 failed torespond upon the third (3d) passage of the vector from station 1.However, in the example shown in FIG. 9, station 3 is also lost from thesequence so that it cannot respond upon the third (3d) attempt bystation 1 to provide for the passing of the vector.

Since neither station 2 nor station 3 has responded to the attempt bystation 1 to provide for the passing of the vector in three (3)successive attempts, station 1 now attempts to provide for the passingof the vector to an imaginary station which may be considered as station"0". Station 1 does this by setting the identification of the nextstation in the sequence to zero (0). Every time that station 1 attemptsto pass the vector to station 0, the other stations in the sequencedecrement their identification by one integer in a register associatedwith such station. This register is identified in FIG. 2A as "SNR",meaning "Station Number Relative".

The SNR register indicates the difference between the identification ofthe station providing for the passing of the vector anywhere and theidentification of the station receiving this vector. For example, in thefirst attempt by station 1 to provide for the passing of the vector tostation 0, station 4 decrements its Station Number Relative by one (1)integer from a value of 4-1=3 to a value of 3-1=2 so that itsidentification is now "2".

When station 1 has attempted two (2) successive times to provide for thepassing of the vector to station 0, the identification of station 4 inthe SNR register is now "1" to indicate that it is the station next tostation 1 in the sequence. Station 4 now communicates with station 1 toindicate that station 1 should splice station 4 into the sequence as thenext station in the sequence and should pass the vector to station 4.Station 1 then provides for the passing of the vector to station 4 andthe sequence in FIG. 9 then constitutes stations 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

FIG. 10E illustrates another example of the loss of a station and alsoindicates the time periods involved in the recovery of the system fromthe loss of such station. In FIG. 10E, station 9 provides for thepassing of a vector to station 12, provides for the passing of a vectorto station 12 a second time after the failure of station 12 to respondwithin a period of two process delay times (2 pd) and provides for apassing of a vector to station 12 a third time after a failure ofstation 12 to respond within a period of two process delay times (2 pd)to the third attempt by station 9. Station 9 then provides for thepassing of a vector to imaginary station 0 to issue an invitation to theother stations in the sequence to become spliced to station 9.

FIG. 10F also illustrates the time sequence for the successiveoperations in the "Lost Station Recovery" mode. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 10F, station mm attempts to provide for the passing of thevector to the next station in the sequence. After two (2) process delaytimes, station mm again attempts to provide for the passing of thevector to such next station in the sequence. After two (2) additionalprocess delay times (2 pd), station mm again attempts to provide for thepassing of the vector to the next station in the sequence. This isindicated schematically in FIG. 10F. After an additional period of twoprocess delay times (2 pd) with no response from any other stations,station mm attempts to provide for the passing of the vector toimaginary station 0.

After each attempt by station mm to to provide for the passing of thevector to imaginary station 0 in FIG. 10F, the registers in the stations(other than station mm) still in the sequence are decremented by aninteger. Assume that, of the stations still in the sequence, station nnis the station next to station mm. When the count in the SNR register instation nn has been decremented to a value of "1", station nn sends aninvitation to station mm in FIG. 10F to splice station nn into thesequence. Upon receiving this invitation to splice, station mm splicesstation nn into the sequence and provides for the passing of the vectorto station nn.

FIG. 10F also illustrates how the system of this invention operates whenthe system is just starting to operate in the "power-up" mode or whenall of the stations have been temporarily or permanently lost from thesystem. Under such circumstances, all of the stations attemptsimultaneously to provide for the passing of the vector to station 0.All of the stations have an individual process delay time (pd) differentfrom those of the other stations. This will cause the station with theshortest process delay time (pd) to assume control over the operation ofthe system.

Assume that station 1 has the shortest process delay time (pd). Thiswill cause station 1 to provide for the passing of the vector to station0 before any other station. Station 2 will accordingly decrement itscount relative to station 1 by an integer and to communicate a splicepacket to station 1. Station 1 accordingly splices station 2 into thesequence. Station 2 now provides for the passing of the vector toimaginary station 0 and every station except stations 1 and 2 decrementsits count by an integer. The count in station 3 accordingly becomesdecremented to a value where station 3 sends a splice package to station2 and station 2 splices station 3 into the sequence. This continuesuntil all of the stations have been progressively spliced into thesequence.

As previously described, a designation of "pmi" (representing"Performance Master Indicator") in the "Packet Data" portion of a packetfor a station indicates whether such station will be an active stationin a sequence. As previously indicated, the stations are capable ofoperating in different modes such as a set-up mode or a performancemode. A designation of "pma" (representing "Performance Mode Active") inthe "Packet Data" portion of a packet for a station indicates thehierarchy of the operational mode which is currently involved.

In the set-up mode, all of the stations participate in the sequenceregardless of their "Performance Master Indicator" (pmi). In thePerformance Mode, only the stations with pmi indications are included inthe sequence. As shown in FIG. 6, not all of the stations in the set-upmode are necessarily included in the performance mode since theperformance mode is at a higher level than the set-up mode.

Assume that the stations in a sequence are operating in the set-up mode.In order to ascend to the performance mode, any station in the set-upmode can communicate that the performance mode should be activated.However, in order to do this, such station has to pass a vector with thedesired "pma" designation in the "Packet Data" portion of the vectorpacket. Such station can then convert the operation to the performancemode by including this value as the "pma" value in the next vector ittransmits. The stations then operate in the performance mode.

For example, in FIG. 7, stations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are in theset-up mode (as indicated by solid wide lines between the stations) butonly stations 1, 5 and 8 are in the performance mode (as indicated bybroken lines between the stations). A register shown in FIG. 2A as"PNID" (meaning "Next performance Identification") is provided for eachindividual one of the stations in the performance mode to indicate thenext station in the performance mode--i.e., the station to which eachindividual station provides for the passing of the vector in theperformance mode.

When the stations (such as stations 1, 5 and 8) in FIG. 7 are operatingin the performance mode, other individual stations with an occasionalneed to send information may include a pma designation in the "PacketData" portion of a packet. This allows such individual stations to enterinto the sequence of the performance mode when the stations in theperformance mode have sequenced to a position where such individualstations can be spliced into the sequence. When such individual stationshave completed the communication of information to another station, orother stations, in the sequence, they operate to splice themselves outof the sequence in the manner shown in FIG. 5 and discussed above.

In order for the stations (such as the stations 1, 5 and 8 in FIG. 7) tocontinue to operate in the performance mode in successive cycles ofoperation, one of the stations has to indicate on a positive basis ineach such cycle that it desires to continue the operation of thesequence in the performance mode. One of the stations does this bycommunicating a pmi indication to the other stations in the sequence. Ifnone of the stations in the sequence sends a pma communication in acycle of operation, the sequence reverts to the set-up mode.

The system disclosed above has certain important advantages. Theseadvantages provide the systems of this invention with a considerablyenhanced flexibility in the operation of the system in comparison to thesystem of the prior art. For example, the system of this invention canadjust the stations in a sequence to splice stations into, or splicestations out of, the sequence without affecting the operation of thesystem. The system of this invention provides these station adjustmentsor flexibilities in such a way that the system continues to operatewithout any noticeable interruptions in the operation of the system.When the system is operating to generate data relating to music, this isimportant in insuring that the listener will continue to hear the musicwithout any noticeable pause or interruption.

The adjustment in the operation of the system of this invention withoutaffecting or interrupting the operation of the sequence may be seen fromthe following different examples:

1. Any station not in a sequence may splice itself into the sequence.Furthermore, this splicing occurs at a proper time in the sequencedepending upon the position of the station in the sequence.

2. Any station may splice itself out of a sequence. Furthermore, suchsplicing occurs at a proper time in the sequence depending upon theposition of the station in the sequence.

3. Any station may be spliced out of a sequence if it does not acceptthe vector from a previous station in the sequence within apredetermined time. Furthermore, such splicing occurs at a proper timein the sequence depending upon the position of the station in thesequence.

The system of this invention also has other important advantages. Forexample, it is able to provide a selective communication betweenstations. This may be seen from the following:

1. A station receiving the vector is able to communicate a data packetto any of the other stations in a sequence.

2. A station receiving the vector is able to communicate a data packetto any selected group of stations in a sequence.

3. A station receiving the vector is able to broadcast a data packet toall of the other stations in a sequence.

In all of the above communcations, the operation of the system is notaffected.

The system of this invention is also advantageous under conditions whichwould be considered as catastrophic in the systems of the prior art. Forexample, even when two (2) or more successive stations are lost from asequence, the system of this invention is able to patch the systemwithout affecting or interrupting the operation of the system.

The system of this invention also follows the same procedure asdiscussed in the previous paragraph when power is first applied to thesystem. In this way, the system is able to become automaticallyoperative when power is first applied to the system. Furthermore, thesystem is able to become operative in a minimal period of time and in aproper succession of stations under such circumstances.

The system of this invention is also able to become converted (orswitched) automatically between different modes of operation without anynoticeable interruption in the operation of the system. For example, thesystem is able to become converted from a set-up mode to a performancemode without any interruption in the operation of the system. The systemis also able to operate in the performance mode for any desired periodof time and to revert to the set-up mode whenever it is no longerdesired to operate the system in the performance mode.

The program for operating the system of this invention is shown inExhibit A, which is attached to this specification and is considered asforming a part of this specification. Applicant believes that a personof ordinary skill in the art will be able to understand this programwithout further explanation, particularly in view of the abovedescription of the construction and operation of the system of thisinvention.

Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated withreferenced to particular embodiments, the principles involved aresusceptible for use in numerous other skilled in the art. The inventionis, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of theappended claims. ##SPC1##

We claim:
 1. In combination,a plurality of stations disposed in aprogressive sequence, each of the stations being disposed at anindividual position in the sequence and being constructed to communicatea data packet to other stations in the sequence and to receive a datapacket from other stations in the sequence and to pass a vector and toreceive a vector, first means for communicating data packets fromstations in the sequence to any station in the sequence other than suchcommunicating stations, to a selective group of stations in sequenceother than such communicating stations or to all of the stations insequence other than such communicating stations, the stations in theselective group having common characteristics different from thecharacteristics of the other stations in the sequence, second means forpassing the vector from each of the stations in the sequence to thestation immediately after such station, each of the stations in thesequence being constructed to receive the vector, and third means forsplicing into the sequence stations, other than the stations in thesequence, at positions in the sequence between the stations passing thevector and the stations immediately in the sequence after the stationspassing the vector in the sequence before the stations immediately inthe sequence after the stations passing the vector have communicated adata packet to any other stations in the sequence other than thestations immediately in the sequence after the stations passing thevector, to the selective group of stations other than the stationsimmediately in the sequence after the stations passing the vector or toall of the stations in the sequence other than the stations immediatelyin the sequence after the stations passing the vector.
 2. In acombination as set forth in claim 1,the first means including means foractivating each of the stations in the sequence when such station hasreceived the vector, the second means including means for passing thevector from each of the stations receiving the vector in the sequence tothe station following in the sequence such station receiving the vectorin the sequence when the station receiving the vector is activated,means for providing a response from each of the following stations inthe sequence to the receipt of the vector by such station to activatesuch following station when the splicing means is not operative tosplice into the sequence one of the stations other than the stations inthe sequence, and means for communicating a data packet from each of thefollowing stations to any station in the sequence other than suchfollowing station when the vector is passed to such following station.3. In combination,a plurality of stations disposed in a progressivesequence, each of the stations being disposed at an individual positionin the sequence and being constructed to communicate a data packet toother stations in the sequence and to receive a data packet from otherstations in the sequence and to pass a vector and to receive a vector,first means for communicating data packets from stations in the sequenceto any stations in the sequence other than such communicating stations,second means for passing the vector from each of the stations to thestation immediately after such station in the sequence, each of thestations in the sequence being constructed to receive the vector, andthird means for splicing into the sequence stations, other than thestations in the sequence, at positions in the sequence between thestations passing the vector and the stations immediately in the sequenceafter the stations passing the vector before the stations immediately inthe sequence after the stations passing the vector have communicated adata packet to any stations in the sequence other than the stationsimmediately in the sequence after the stations passing the vector, thefirst means for each of the stations receiving the vector in thesequence being operative in a first particular period of time tocommunicate with any of the other stations after receiving the vector,the third means for each of the spliced-in stations being activated in asecond particular period of time less than the first particular periodof time to provide such splicing, and the third means for the stationspassing the vector in the sequence being operative to splice suchspliced-in stations into the sequence at the position in the sequencebetween such stations passing the vector and the stations immediately inthe sequence after the stations passing the vector to obtain subsequentcommunications of data packets between such spliced-in stations and anyof the stations in the sequence other than the spliced-in stations
 4. Incombination,a plurality of stations disposed in a progressive sequence,each of the stations being disposed at an individual position in thesequence and being constructed to communicate a data packet to otherstations in the sequence and to receive a data packet from otherstations in the sequence and to pass a vector and to receive a vector,first means for communicating data packets from stations in the sequenceto any stations in the sequence other than such communicating stations,second means for passing the vector from each of the stations in thesequence to the station immediately after such station, each of thestations in the sequence being constructed to receive the vector, andthird means for splicing into the sequence stations, other than thestations in the sequence, at positions in the sequence between thestations passing the vector and the stations immediately in the sequenceafter the stations passing the vector before the stations immediately inthe sequence after the stations passing the vector have communicated adata packet to any other stations in the sequence other than thestations immediately in the sequence after the stations passing thevector, the first means including means for activating each of thestations in the sequence when such station has received the vector, thesecond means including means for passing the vector from each of thestations receiving the vector in the sequence to the station followingin the sequence such station receiving the vector in the sequence whensuch station receiving the vector in the sequence is activated, meansfor providing a response from each of the following stations in thesequence to the receipt of the vector by such station to activate suchfollowing station when the splicing means is not operative to spliceinto the sequence one of the stations other than the stations in thesequence, means for communicating a data packet from each of thefollowing stations in the sequence to any station in the sequence otherthan such immediately following station when the vector is passed tosuch immediately following station, means operative in each of thestations in the sequence in a first particular period of time to acceptthe vector when the vector is received by it, the third means for eachof the spliced-in stations being activated in a second particular periodof time less than the first particular period of time to provide suchsplicing, the third means for each of the spliced-in stations in thesequence being operative to splice such spliced-in station into thesequence at the proper position in the sequence and to provide forsubsequent communications of data packets between such spliced-instation and any of the stations in the sequence other than thespliced-in stations, and means in each of the spliced-in stations forreceiving the vector from the station immediately preceding suchspliced-in station in the sequence and for activating the first means inthe spliced-in station to communicate a data packet to any of thestations in the sequence other than such spliced-in station.
 5. Incombination,a plurality of stations disposed in a progressive sequence,each of the stations being disposed at an individual position in thesequence and being constructed to communicate a data packet to otherstations in the sequence, each of the stations being constructed to passa vector and to receive a vector, means for passing the vector from eachstation in the sequence to the station immediately following suchstation passing the vector in the sequence to activate such stationreceiving the vector for the communication of a data packet from suchstation receiving the vector in the sequence to stations in the sequenceother than the station receiving the vector in the sequence, means forcommunicating a data packet from the station receiving the vector in thesequence to any of the stations in the sequence other than the stationreceiving the vector in the sequence, to a selective group of stationsin the sequence other than the station receiving the vector in thesequence or to all of the stations in the sequence other than thestation receiving the vector, the stations in the selective group havingcommon characteristics different from the characteristics of the otherstations in the sequence, and means for splicing out of the sequenceindividual ones of the stations in the sequence upon the receipt of thevector by such individual stations and for thereafter passing the vectorto the different stations in the sequence without the passage of thevector to the individual stations in the sequence.
 6. In a combinationas set forth in claim 5,the splicing-out means including means forcommunicating from each of the spliced-out stations to the stationpassing the vector in the sequence, upon the receipt of the vector bythe spliced-out station from the station passing the vector, to obtainthe splicing-out of such spliced-out station from the sequence, andmeans for thereafter passing the vector from such station passing thevector in the sequence to the station immediately after such spliced-outstation in the sequence.
 7. In a combination as set forth in claim 6,thecommunicating means for each of the stations immediately preceding oneof the spliced-out stations being initially operative to pass the vectorto such spliced-out station and such spliced-out station thereaftercommunicating with such station passing the vector to obtain the removalfrom the sequence of the spliced-out station and to obtain thesubsequent passage of the vector from such station passing the vector tothe station immediately following the spliced-out station in thesequence.
 8. In a combination as set forth in claim 5,means responsiveto the removal from the sequence of each of the spliced-out stations forproviding an indication in the following station that such followingstation is thereafter to receive the vector from such station passingthe vector in the sequence.
 9. In combination,a plurality of stationsdisposed in a progressive sequence, each of the stations being disposedat an individual position in the sequence, each of the stations beingconstructed to pass a vector and to receive a vector, means for passingthe vector from stations in the sequence to stations immediatelyfollowing such stations passing the vector in the sequence, and means atthe station receiving the vector in the sequence for communicating adata packet to any of the stations in the sequence other than thestation receiving the vector, to all of the stations in the sequenceother than the station receiving the vector or to a selective group ofthe stations in the sequence other than the station receiving thevector, the stations in the selective group having commoncharacteristics different from the other stations in the sequence, andmeans for splicing out of the sequence a plurality of stations in thesequence upon the receipt of the vector by such stations.
 10. In acombination as set forth in claim 9,means at the stations passing thevector in the sequence for sequentially communicating with successiveones of the spliced-out stations in the sequence, and means at thestations passing the vector in the sequence for sequentially removingsuch spliced-out stations from the sequence upon the failure of suchspliced-out stations to receive the vector from such stations passingthe vector.
 11. In combination,a plurality of stations disposed in aprogressive sequence, each of the stations being disposed at anindividual position in the sequence, each of the stations beingconstructed to pass a vector and to receive a vector, means for passinga vector from stations in the sequence to stations immediately followingsuch stations passing the vector in the sequence, and means at thestations receiving the vector in the sequence for communicating a datapacket to any of the stations in the sequence other than the stationsreceiving the vector, means for splicing out of the sequence a pluralityof stations in the sequence upon the receipt of the vector by suchspliced-out stations, means for indicating the difference in positionsof the stations between the stations passing the vector in the sequenceand the stations following the stations passing the vector in thesequence, and means for decreasing by an integer the difference in thesequence between the stations passing the vector in the sequence and thefollowing stations in the sequence after the removal from the sequenceof the spliced-out stations until the difference indicates that suchfollowing stations immediately follow such stations passing the vectorin the sequence.
 12. In a combination as recited in claim 11,meansresponsive to the failure to respond within a particular time of a firstone of the spliced-out stations for transmitting signals from thestation passing the vector in the sequence to an imaginary station zero,and means responsive to each transmission to the imaginary station zeroof signals from the station passing the vector in the sequence fordecreasing by an integer the difference in the sequence between suchstation passing the vector in the sequence and such following station inthe sequence until the difference indicates that such following stationimmediately follows such station passing the vector in the sequence. 13.In combination,a plurality of stations, first particular ones of thestations in the plurality having a first particular mode and beingdisposed in a first sequence, each of the first particular stationsbeing disposed at an individual position in the first sequence and beingconstructed to pass a vector to the station immediately following suchstation in the first sequence, means for receiving a vector atsuccessive ones of the first particular stations in the first sequencein the first particular mode, second particular ones of the stations inthe plurality also being disposed in a second particular mode higherthan the first particular mode to operate in the second particular modein a second sequence different from the first sequence, individual onesof the stations in the plurality being disposed in the first and secondsequences, and means operative at an individual one of the stations inthe plurality, during the operation of the first particular stations inthe first sequence, for obtaining an operation of the second particularstations in the second sequence when such individual one of the stationspasses the vector to the next one of the stations in the secondsequence.
 14. In a combination as set forth in claim 13,means operativewith the second particular stations in the second sequence forcommunicating periodically to the other stations in the second sequence,to maintain the operation of such stations in the second sequence, thatsuch stations should continue to operate in the second sequence, andmeans for converting the second particular stations from an operation inthe second sequence to an operation of the first particular stations inthe first sequence when none of the second particular stations in thesecond sequence communicates periodically to the other stations in thesecond sequence that such second particular stations should continue tooperate in the second sequence.
 15. In a combination as set forth inclaim 13,the means in the first particular stations for passing thevector including means at each of such stations for passing the vectorto the station immediately following in the first sequence the stationpassing the vector and means at each of such stations receiving thevector in the first sequence for communicating a data packet to any ofthe stations in the first particular mode other than such stationreceiving the vector after such station receiving the vector hasaccepted the vector.
 16. In a combination as set forth in claim 14,meansfor splicing into the second sequence one of the stations in the firstsequence, but not in the second sequence, to obtain an operation in thesecond sequence of the stations previously in the second sequence andthe station spliced into the second sequence.
 17. In combination,aplurality of stations disposed in a progressive sequence, each of thestations being disposed at an individual position in the sequence andbeing constructed to pass a vector to the station immediately followingthe station passing the vector in the sequence and to communicate a datapacket to any station in the sequence other than the station passing thevector, each of the stations passing the vector having an individualdelay for passing the vector to the following station in the sequence,such individual delay for each station in the sequence being differentfrom the delay for other stations in the sequence, means in a start-upmode for selecting the station in the plurality with the least delay asthe first station in the sequence, and means for thereafter sequentiallysplicing into the sequence other stations in the plurality in accordancewith the individual delays of such stations. PG,112
 18. In a combinationas set forth in claim 17,each of the stations including means forindicating its position relative to other stations in the plurality,means for passing the vector from each station upon the splicing of suchstation into the sequence, and means for decrementing the indication ofthe position of stations not yet spliced into the sequence relative tothe station passing the vector every time that a station already in thesequence unsuccessfully attempts to pass the vector to others of thestations not yet in the sequence.
 19. In a combination as set forth inclaim 17,the splicing means including means in each of the stationspassing the vector for initially passing the vector to the stationreceiving the vector in the sequence and for thereafter passing thevector to an imaginary station upon the failure of the station receivingthe vector in the sequence to respond within a particular period of timeto the passing of the vector by the station passing the vector, meansresponsive to the communication of the vector to the imaginary stationfrom each of the stations passing the vector for decrementing by aninteger the indication of the positions of the stations not yet splicedinto the sequence relative to such station passing the vector, and meansfor splicing into the sequence other stations not yet spliced into thesequence when the indications of the positions of such other stationsrelative to the station passing the vector have decremented to aparticular value.
 20. In a combination as set forth in claim 17,meansfor communicating a data packet from each individual one of the stationsspliced into the sequence to any station in the sequence other than suchindividual station after the splicing of such individual station intothe sequence.
 21. In a combination as recited in claim 20,thecommunicating means for each of the stations passing the vector in thesequence including: means in each of the stations passing the vector inthe sequence for passing the vector to the station receiving the vectorin the sequence, and means in each of the stations receiving a vector inthe sequence for thereafter communicating a data packet to any stationin the sequence other than the station receiving the vector after thestation receiving the vector has received the vector.
 22. Incombination,a plurality of stations each disposed at an individualposition in a sequence and constructed to communicate with otherstations in the sequence, means for communicating a data packet fromeach of the stations in the sequence to any station in the sequenceother than such station, to all of the stations in the sequence otherthan such station or to a selective group of stations in the sequenceother than such station, the stations in the selective group havingcommon characteristics different from the characteristics of the otherstations in the sequence, means for passing a vector from each stationin the sequence to the station immediately after the station passing thevector in the sequence, and means for activating the station receiving avector in the sequence, upon the passing of the vector to such station,to communicate a data packet from such station to any station in thesequence other than such station, to all of the stations in the sequenceother than such station or to the selective group of stations other thansuch station and thereafter to pass the vector from such station to thestation immediately following such station in the sequence.
 23. Incombination,a plurality of stations each disposed at an individualposition in a sequence and constructed to communicate with otherstations in the sequence, means for communicating a data packet fromeach of the stations in the sequence to any station in the sequenceother than such stations, means for passing a vector from each stationin the sequence to the station immediately following the station passingthe vector in the sequence, means for activating the station receiving avector in the sequence, upon the passing of the vector to such station,to communicate a data packet from such station to any station in thesequence other than such station and thereafter to pass the vector fromsuch station to the station immediately following such station in thesequence, means at each of the stations passing the vector in thesequence for passing the vector after a first particular time from suchstation to the station receiving the vector in the sequence, and meansat each of the stations passing the vector in the sequence for splicinginto the sequence an individual station not then in the sequence upon acommunication from such individual station to the station passing thevector, in a second particular time period less than the firstparticular time period, that it wishes to be spliced into the sequence,such individual station being disposed in the sequence between thestation passing the vector in the sequence and the station receiving thevector in the sequence.
 24. In a combination as set forth in claim23,means at the station passing the vector in the sequence for passingthe vector to the station immediately following the station receivingthe vector in the sequence upon the failure of the individual station tosplice into the sequence within the second particular time period andthe failure of the station receiving the vector in the sequence tocommunicate a data packet to another station in the sequence, other thanthe station receiving the vector in the sequence, within the firstparticular time period after the passing of the vector from the stationpassing the vector in the sequence, means at the station immediatelyfollowing the station receiving the vector in the sequence forcommunicating a data packet to any station in the sequence other thansuch immediately following station after a particular number of thepassings of the vector to the station receiving the vector in thesequence without any response from such station receiving the vector inthe sequence, and means at the station immediately following the stationreceiving the vector in the sequence for thereafter passing the vectorto the station immediately after such immediately following station inthe sequence.
 25. In a combination as set forth in claim 24,means ateach of the stations in the sequence for providing such station with anindividual period for the communication of the data packet and thepassing of the vector by that station, and means for synchronizing theoperation of the stations in the sequence with the operation of theparticular station in the sequence with the longest period of time forthe communication of the data packet and the passing of the vector bysuch particular station.
 26. In combination,a plurality of stations eachdisposed at an individual position in a sequence and constructed tocommunicate data packets to any station in the sequence other than suchcommunicating station, means for passing a vector from each individualstation in the sequence to the station immediately following theindividual station in the sequence after the communication of the datapacket to another station in the sequence other than the individualstation, means at the station receiving a vector in the sequence forcommunicating a data packet to any station in the sequence other thanthe station receiving the vector, to all of the stations in the sequenceother than the station receiving the vector or to a selective group ofstations other than the station receiving the vector, the selectivegroup having common characteristics different from the characteristicsof the other stations in the sequence, means at the station receivingthe vector in the sequence for providing a response to the passing ofthe vector from such individual station that it wishes to be spliced outof the sequence, and means at the individual station for splicing outthe station receiving the vector in the sequence and for substitutingthe station immediately after the station receiving the vector in thesequence as the station to which the individual station thereafterpasses the vector.
 27. In a combination as set forth in claim 26,meansat the individual station for passing the vector to the substitutedstation after splicing out the station receiving the vector in thesequence, and means at the substituted station for communicating a datapacket to any station in the sequence other than the substituted stationafter receiving the vector from the individual station.
 28. In acombination as set forth in claim 27,means at the substituted stationfor passing the vector to the station immediately after the substitutedstation in the sequence after communicating a data packet to any stationin the sequence other than the substituted station.
 29. In a combinationas set forth in claim 28,each of the stations having an individual ratefor communications with other stations in the sequence, and means at thestations in the sequence for providing for the communication between thestations in the sequence at the slowest of the individual rates ofcommunication of the stations in the sequence.
 30. In combination,aplurality of stations each disposed at an individual position in asequence and constructed to communicate with other stations in thesequence, means for communicating a data packet from each station in thesequence to any station in the sequence other than the stationcommunicating the data packet, to all of the stations in the sequenceother than the station communicating the data packet or to a selectivegroup of stations in the sequence other than the station communicatingthe data packet, the selective group of stations in the sequence havingcommon characteristics different from the characteristics of the otherstations in the sequence, means for passing a vector from the stationcommunicating the data packet in the sequence to the station immediatelyafter such station communicating the data packet in the sequence uponthe communication and acceptance of the data packet by the stationreceiving the data packet from the station communicating the data packetin the sequence, means at the station receiving a vector in the sequencefor communicating a data packet to any station in the sequence otherthan such station receiving the vector in the sequence after receivingthe vector from the station passing the vector in the sequence, andmeans at the station passing the vector in the sequence for passing thevector again to the station receiving the vector in the sequence uponthe failure of the station receiving the vector in the sequence torespond to the passage of the vector from the station passing the vectorin the sequence within a particular time after the first passage of thevector from the station passing the vector in the sequence to thestation receiving the vector in the sequence.
 31. In a combination asset forth in claim 30,means at the station immediately following thestation receiving the vector in the sequence for splicing into thesequence in substitution for the station receiving the vector in thesequence upon the failure of the station receiving the vector in thesequence to respond to any of a particular number of successive passingsof the vector from the station passing the vector in the sequence. 32.In a combination as set forth in claim 30,means at a particular stationin the sequence between the station passing the vector in the sequenceand the station receiving the vector in the sequence for splicing theparticular station into the sequence at a position in the sequencebetween the station passing the vector in the sequence and the stationreceiving the vector in the sequence in any of the successive passingsof the vector from the station passing the vector in the sequence to thestation receiving the vector in the sequence, and means at the stationpassing the vector in the sequence for thereafter passing the vector tothe particular station.
 33. In combination,a plurality of stations eachdisposed at an individual position in a sequence and constructed tocommunicate with other stations in the sequence, means for communicatinga data packet from each station in the sequence to any station in thesequence other than the station communicating the data packet, to all ofthe stations in the sequence other than the station communicating thedata packet or to a selective group of stations in the sequence otherthan the station communicating the data packet, the selective group ofstations in the sequence having common characteristics different fromthe characteristics of the other stations in the sequence, means forpassing a vector from the station communicating the data packet in thesequence to the station immediately after such station communicating thedata packet in the sequence upon the acceptance of the data packet bythe station receiving the data packet from the station communication thedata packet in the sequence, means at the station receiving a vector inthe sequence for communicating a data packet to any station in thesequence other than such station receiving the vector in the sequenceafter receiving the vector from the station passing the vector in thesequence, and means at the station passing the vector in the sequencefor passing the vector again to the station receiving the vector in thesequence upon the failure of the station receiving the vector in thesequence to respond to the passage of the vector from the stationpassing the vector in the sequence within a particular time after thefirst passage of the vector from the station passing the vector in thesequence to the station receiving the vector in the sequence, means atthe stations immediately after the station passing the vector in thesequence for indicating their positions in the sequence relative to thestation passing the vector in the sequence, and means at the stationimmediately after the station receiving the vector in the sequence forsplicing such station into the sequence as the station receiving thevector from the station passing the vector in the sequence upon thedecrement to a particular value of the indication of its position in thesequence relative to the station passing the vector in the sequenceafter the failure of the station receiving the vector in the sequence torespond a particular number of times to the communication of the vectorfrom the station passing the vector in the sequence.
 34. Incombination,a plurality of stations disposed in a sequence, each of thestations being disposed at an individual position in the sequence andbeing constructed to communicate with any station in the sequence otherthan such communicating station, means for communicating data packetsfrom each of the stations in the sequence to any stations in thesequence other than such station communicating such data packets, to allof the stations in the sequence other than the station communicatingeach data packet or to a selective group of stations other than thestation communicating such data packet, such selective group of stationshaving common characteristics different from the characteristics of theother stations in the sequence, means for passing a vector from each ofthe stations communication the data packets in the sequence to thestation immediately following such station communicating the datapackets in the sequence upon the communication of the data packets fromsuch station communicating such data packets.
 35. In a combination asset forth in claim 34,means responsive at each of the stations in thesequence to the receipt of the vector from the station passing thevector in the sequence for communicating a data packet to any station inthe sequence other than the station receiving the vector in thesequence, to all of the stations in the sequence other than the stationreceiving the vector in the sequence or to a selective group of stationsother than the station receiving the vector in the sequence.
 36. In acombination as set forth in claim 35,means responsive at each station inthe sequence to the receipt of the vector from the station passing thevector in the sequence for communicating a data packet to any station inthe sequence other than such station receiving the vector in thesequence, to all of the stations in the sequence other than the stationreceiving the vector in the sequence or to a selective group of stationsother than the station receiving the vector in the sequence, means forpassing the vector from the station receiving the vector in the sequenceto the station immediately following the station receiving the vector inthe sequence after the communication of the data packet from suchstation receiving the vector in the sequence, and means responsive ateach of the following stations in the sequence to the receipt of thevector from the station receiving the vector in the sequence forcommunicating a data packet to any station in the sequence other thansuch following station, to all of the stations in the sequence otherthan the station receiving the vector in the sequence or to a selectivegroup of stations other than the station receiving the vector in thesequence.
 37. In combination,a plurality of stations each disposed at anindividual position in a sequence and constructed to communicate datapackets to any station in the sequence other than the stationcommunicating the data packets in the sequence, to all stations in thesequence other than the station communicating such data packet or to aselective group of stations in the sequence other than the stationcommunicating such data packet, such selective group of stations havingcommon characteristics different from the characteristics of the otherstations in the sequence, means operative after the communication of adata packet from each of the stations communicating the data packet inthe sequence to one of the stations receiving the data packets in thesequence for passing a vector to the station immediately after thestation communicating the data packet in the sequence, and means at thestation receiving a vector in the sequence for communicating a datapacket to any station in the sequence other than the station receivingthe vector in the sequence upon the receipt of such vector by suchstation receiving the vector in the sequence, to all of the stations inthe sequence other than the station receiving the vector in the sequenceor to a selective group of stations other than the station receiving thevector in the sequence.
 38. In a combination as set forth in claim37,means at the station receiving the vector in the sequence forcommunicating to the station passing the vector in the sequence, uponthe receipt of the vector from the station passing the vector in thesequence, that the station receiving the vector in the sequence desiresto be spliced out of the sequence, and means responsive at the stationpassing the vector in the sequence to the communication from the stationreceiving the vector in the sequence of the desire of the stationreceiving the vector in the sequence to be spliced out of the sequencefor splicing out of the sequence the station receiving the vector in thesequence.
 39. In a combination as set forth in claim 38,means responsiveat the station passing the vector in the sequence to the splicing out ofthe sequence of the station receiving the vector in the sequence forpassing the vector to the station following the station receiving thevector in the sequence to activate the following station in the sequencefor communication of a data packet from such following station to any ofthe stations in the sequence other than such following station.
 40. Incombination,a plurality of stations each disposed at an individualposition in a sequence and constructed to communicate data packets toany station in the sequence other than the station communicating thedata packets in the sequence, means for communicating a data packet fromeach of the stations to any of the stations in the sequence other thanthe station communicating the data packet in the sequence, meansoperative after the communication of a data packet from each of thestations communicating the data packet in the sequence to one of thestations receiving the data packets in the sequence for passing a vectorto the station immediately after the station communicating the datapacket in the sequence, means at the station receiving a vector in thesequence for communicating a data packet to any station in the sequenceother than the station receiving the vector in the sequence upon thereceipt of such vector by such station receiving the vector in thesequence, means at a particular station in the sequence between thestation passing the vector in the sequence and the station receiving thevector in the sequence for communicating to the station passing thevector in the sequence, before any communication by the stationreceiving the vector in the sequence to a station in the sequence otherthan the station receiving the vector in the sequence, that it desiresto be spliced into the sequence.
 41. In a combination as set forth inclaim 40,means responsive at the station passing the vector in thesequence to the communication from the particular station for splicingsuch particular station into the sequence and for thereafter passing thevector to the particular station in the sequence.
 42. In combination,aplurality of stations disposed in a sequence, each of the stations beingdisposed at an individual position in the sequence and being constructedto communicate data packets, and to pass a vector, to other stations inthe sequence, means for passing the vector from each of the stations inthe sequence to the station in the sequence following the stationpassing the vector in the sequence, means for indicating the positionbetween each station and the following station in the sequence, meansoperative upon a loss of communication between each of the stationspassing the vector in the sequence and at least a pair of stations,including the following station in the sequence, successive in thesequence to such station passing the vector in the sequence fordecrementing the indication of the position of other stations in thesequence relative to the station passing the vector in the sequence uponeach successive communication of the vector to at least such pair ofstations from the station passing the vector in the sequence, and meansoperative upon the decrement of the indication of the position of anindividual one of the other stations in the sequence to a particularvalue relative to the station passing the vector in the sequence, uponeach successive communication of the vector to at least such pair ofstations from the station passing the vector in the sequence, forpassing the vector from the station passing the vector in the sequenceto such individual station to obtain the subsequent communication of adata packet from such individual station to any station in the sequenceother than such individual station.
 43. In a combination as set forth inclaim 42,means operative upon the receipt of the vector from the stationpassing the vector in the sequence by the individual station forresuming passage of the vector from each of the successive stations inthe sequence to the station immediately after such successive station inthe sequence to obtain a subsequent communication of data packets fromsuch stations receiving the vector in the sequence.
 44. In a combinationas set forth in claim 43,means operative upon the communication of adata packet from each successive station in the sequence to any stationin the sequence other than such successive station for passing thevector from such successive station to the station immediately aftersuch successive station in the sequence, means responsive at eachstation receiving the vector in the sequence to the passing of thevector from the station passing the vector in the sequence forcommunicating a data packet to any station in the sequence other thansuch station receiving the vector in the sequence.
 45. In a combinationas set forth in claim 44,means operative at the station passing thevector in the sequence, upon the failure of the station receiving thevector in the sequence to communicate a data packet to any station inthe sequence other than the station receiving the vector in thesequence, for passing the vector again to the station receiving thevector in the sequence, means operative at the station passing thevector in the sequence, upon the failure of the station receiving thevector in the sequence to communicate a data packet to another stationin the sequence, other than the station receiving the vector in thesequence, in subsequent passings of the vector by the station passingthe vector in the sequence, for providing a splicing by the stationpassing the vector in the sequence to the station following the stationreceiving the vector in the sequence as the station to which the stationpassing the vector in the sequence should pass the vector, means at thestation passing the vector in the sequence for passing the vector tosuch following station after such splicing, and means responsive at thefollowing station in the sequence to the receipt of the vector from thestation passing the vector in the sequence for communicating a datapacket to any station in the sequence other than the following station.46. In combination,a plurality of stations disposed in a sequence, eachof the stations being constructed to communicate a data packet tostations in the sequence other than such station, means at each of thestations in the sequence for communicating a data packet to any stationin the sequence other than such station communicating the data packet,means at each of the stations communicating the data packet in thesequence for passing a vector to the station immediately following thestation communicating the data packet in the sequence after thecommunication of the data packet from such station communicating thedata packet in the sequence to any station in the sequence other thansuch station communicating the data packet in the sequence, meansoperative at the station receiving a vector in the sequence, after aparticular period of time from the communication of the vector from thestation passing the vector in the sequence for communicating a datapacket to any station in the sequence other than the station receivingthe vector in the sequence, means operative at a particular stationdisposed between the station passing the vector in the sequence and thestation receiving the vector in the sequence, but not included in thesequence, for communicating to the station passing the vector in thesequence, in a time period less than the particular period, that itdesires to be spliced into the sequence, means operative at the stationpassing the vector in the sequence, in response to the communicationfrom the station communicating the desire to be spliced into thesequence, for splicing the into the sequence the station communicatingthe splice-in desire, and means at the station passing the vector in thesequence for thereafter passing the vector to the station communicatingthe desire to be spliced into the sequence.
 47. In a combination as setforth in claim 46,means at the station receiving the vector in thesequence for communicating to the station passing the vector in thesequence, upon the receipt of the vector at the station receiving thevector in the sequence, that it desires to be spliced out of thesequence, and means operative at the station passing the vector in thesequence, in response to the communication from the station receivingthe vector in the sequence of the desire of the station receiving thevector in the sequence to be spliced out of the sequence, for thereafterpassing the vector to the station following the station receiving thevector in the sequence.
 48. In a combination as set forth in claim47,means at the following station for thereafter communicating a datapacket to any station in the sequence other than the following stationafter the following station receives the vector from the station passingthe vector in the sequence.
 49. In a combination as set forth in claim47,means at the following station for communicating the data packet toany stations in the sequence other than the following station upon thereceipt of the vector by such following station, and means at thestations receiving the data packets from the following station foracknowledging to the following station that they have received such datapackets.
 50. In combination,a plurality of stations disposed in asequence, each of the stations being disposed at an individual positionin the sequence and being constructed to communicate data packets toother stations in the sequence, means for communicating a data packetfrom each of the successive stations in the sequence to any station inthe sequence other than such station communicating such data packet,means for passing a vector from each of the stations in the sequence tothe station immediately after the station passing the vector in thesequence upon the communication of the data packet from such stationpassing the vector in the sequence to any station in the sequence otherthan the station passing the vector in the sequence, means operative atthe station receiving a vector in the sequence, after a particular timefrom the passing of the vector by the station passing the vector in thesequence to the station receiving the vector in the sequence, forcommunicating to the station passing the vector in the sequence that itwishes to be applied out of the sequence, means operative at anindividual station disposed between the station passing the vector inthe sequence and the station receiving the vector in the sequence, butnot included in the sequence, for communicating to the station passingthe vector in the sequence, in a time less than the particular time,that it desires to be included in the sequence, the communicating meansat the station receiving the vector in the sequence being operativeafter the particular time only when the communicating means at thestation communicating the desire to be spliced into the sequence is notactivated in the time less than the particular time to communicate tothe station passing the vector in the sequence that it desires to bespliced into the sequence.
 51. In a combination as set forth in claim50,means operative at the station passing the vector in the sequence, inresponse to a communication from the station receiving the vector in thesequence that it desires to be spliced out of the sequence, for splicingthe station receiving the vector out of the sequence and for thereafterpassing the vector to the station following in the sequence the stationreceiving the vector in the sequence, and means operative at the stationpassing the vector in the sequence, in response to the communicationfrom the station communicating the desire to be spliced into thesequence, for splicing into the sequence the station communicating thedesire to be spliced into the sequence and for thereafter passing thevector from the station passing the vector in the sequence to thestation communicating the desire to be spliced into the sequence.
 52. Ina combination as set forth in claim 51,the communicating means at thestation passing the vector in the sequence being operative, after thesplicing into the sequence of the station communicating the desire to bespliced into the sequence, to pass the vector to the stationcommunicating the desire to be spliced into, means operative at thestation communicating the desire to be spliced into the sequence, afterthe receipt of the vector by such station, for communicating a datapacket to any station in the sequence other than such station, and meansoperative at the station communicating the desire to be spliced into thesequence, after the communication of the data packet to any station inthe sequence other than such station, for passing the vector from suchstation to the station following such station in the sequence.
 53. In acombination as set forth in claim 52,the communicating means at each ofthe data-passing stations being operative to identify such station uponthe passing of a data packet from such station and being operative tocommunicate data packets to other stations in the sequence and beingoperative to identify in such data packets different types of data beingcommunicated to such other stations.
 54. In combination in an individualstation included in a sequence for the sequential activation of theindividual station and the other stations in the sequence, theindividual station in the sequence being displaced from the otherstations in the sequence and being activated, upon the passing of avector to such individual station, for communicating a data packet fromsuch individual station to any station in the sequence other than suchindividual station,means at the individual station for receiving avector from the station immediately preceding such individual station inthe sequence, means at the individual station for communicating a datapacket to any station in the sequence other than the individual stationupon the passing of the vector by the immediately preceding station tosuch individual station, to all of the other stations in the sequenceother than the individual station or to a selective group in stations inthe sequence other than the individual station, the selective group ofstations in the sequence having common characteristics different fromthe characteristics of the other stations in the sequence, and means atthe individual station for passing a vector to the station in thesequence immediately following such individual station upon thecommunication by the individual station of the data packet to anystation in the sequence other than the individual station, to all of thestation in the sequence other than the individual station or to theselective group of stations in the sequence other than the individualstation.
 55. In a combination as set forth in claim 54,the means at theindividual station for passing the data packet being operative at aparticular time after the receipt of the vector from the passingstation, and the means at the individual station for passing the vectorbeing operative at the particular time after the communication of thedata packet by the communicating means at the individual station.
 56. Ina combination as set forth in claim 54,the receiving means at theindividual station including a first register identifying theimmediately preceding station in the sequence, the means at theindividual station for passing the vector including a second registerfor identifying the immediately following station in the sequence, andthe individual station including a third register for identifying theindividual station.
 57. In combination in an individual station includedin a sequence for the sequential activation of the individual stationand the other stations in the sequence, the individual station in thesequence being displaced from the other stations in the sequence andbeing activated, upon the passing of a vector to such individualstation, for communicating a data packet from such individual station toany station in the sequence other than such individual station,means atthe individual station for receiving a vector from the stationimmediately preceding such individual station in the sequence, means atthe individual station for communicating a data packet to any station inthe sequence other than the individual station upon the passing of thevector by the immediately preceding station to such individual station,means at the individual station for passing the vector to the station inthe sequence following such individual station upon the communication bythe individual station of the data packet to any station in the sequenceother than the individual station, and the means at the individualstation for passing the data packet including means for communicatingthe data packet to a selective group of stations in the sequence notincluding the individual station or for broadcasting the data packet toall of the stations in the sequence other than the individual station,the stations in the selective group having common characteristicsdifferent from the characteristics of the other stations in thesequence.
 58. In combination in an individual station included in asequence for the sequential activation of the individual station and theother stations in the sequence, each of the stations in the sequencebeing displaced from the other stations in the sequence and beingactivated, upon the passing of a vector to such individual station, forthe communication of a data packet from such individual station to anystation in the sequence other than the individual station,means at theindividual station for receiving a vector from the station immediatelypreceding such individual station in the sequence, means at theindividual station for communicating a data packet to any of thestations in the sequence other than the individual station after thereceipt of the vector by the individual station, to all of the otherstations in the sequence other than the individual station or aselective group of stations in the sequence other than the individualstation, the selective group of stations having characteristicsdifferent than the characteristics of the other stations in thesequence, means at the individual station for passing a vector to thestation immediately following the individual station in the sequence,and means at the individual station for communicating a desire to theimmediately preceding station to be spliced out of the sequence upon thereceipt at the individual station of the vector from the immediatelypreceding station.
 59. In a combination as set forth in claim 58,meansincluding a first register at the individual station for indicating theimmediately preceding station, means including a second register at theindividual station for identifying the individual station in the datapacket communicated to any station in the sequence other than theindividual station, and means including a third register at theindividual station for identifying the immediately following station inthe vector passed to the following station.
 60. In combination in anindividual station included in a sequence for the sequential activationof the individual station and the other stations in the sequence, eachof the stations in the sequence being displaced from the other stationsin the sequence and being activated, upon the passing of a vector tosuch individual station, for the communication of a data packet fromsuch individual station to any station in the sequence other than theindividual station,means at the individual station for receiving avector from the station immediately preceding such individual station ina sequence, means at the individual station for communicating a datapacket to any of the stations in the sequence other than the individualstation after the receipt of the vector by the individual station, meansat the individual station for passing a vector to the stationimmediately following the individual station in the sequence, means atthe individual station for communicating a desire to the immediatelypreceding station to be spliced out of the sequence upon the receipt atthe individual station of the vector from the immediately precedingstation, means including a first register at the individual station forindicating the immediately preceding station, means including a secondregister at the individual station for identifying the individualstation in the data packet communicated to any station in the sequenceother than the individual station, means including a third register atthe individual station for identifying the immediately following stationin the vector passed to the following station, all of the station in thesequence being able to operate in a first mode and particular ones ofthe stations in the sequence being able to operate in a second modedifferent from the first mode, and means at the individual station foridentifying whether the individual station is to operate in the firstmode or the second mode.
 61. In a combination as set forth in claim60,means at the individual station for providing an operation of theindividual station in the first mode at first times and in the secondmode at second times different from the first times, means at theindividual station for communicating to the stations in the secondsequence other than the individual station that the stations operativein the second mode are to operate in the second mode.
 62. In combinationin an individual station for the inclusion of the individual station ina sequence including other stations for the sequential activation of theindividual station and the other stations in the sequence, theindividual station in the sequence being displaced from the otherstations in the sequence and being activated, upon the passing of avector to such individual station, for the communication of a datapacket from such individual station to any station in the sequence otherthan the individual station, to all stations in the sequence other thanthe individual station or to a selective group of stations in thesequence other than the individual station, the selective group ofstations having common characteristics different from thecharacteristics of the other stations in the sequence,means at theindividual station for receiving a vector from the station immediatelypreceding the individual station in the sequence, means at theindividual station for communicating a data packet to any station in thesequence other than the individual station after the individual stationhas received the vector from the immediately preceding station and whenthe individual station is included in the sequence, to all stations inthe sequence at such time other than the individual station or to theselective group of stations in the sequence at such time other than theindividual station, means at the individual station for communicating adata packet to the immediately preceding station in the sequence, whenthe individual station is not included in the sequence and when thevector received by the individual station from the immediately precedingstation is intended for a station immediately following the individualstation in the sequence, that it wishes to be spliced into the sequence.63. In a combination as set forth in claim 62,means including a firstregister at the individual station for identifying the individualstation, means including a second register at the individual station foridentifying the immediately preceding station in the sequence, and meansincluding a third register at the individual station for identifying theimmediately following station in the sequence.
 64. In a combination asset forth in claim 63,means at the individual station for passing thevector to the immediately following station in the sequence after theindividual station has communicated a data packet to any station in thesequence other than the individual station, to all of the stations inthe sequence other than the individual station or to the selective groupof stations in the sequence other than the individual station, thepassing of the vector by the individual station including anidentification of the individual station from the first register.
 65. Incombination in an individual station for the inclusion of the individualstation in a sequence including other stations for the sequentialactivation of the individual station and the other stations in thesequence, the individual station in the sequence being displaced fromthe other stations in the sequence and being activated, upon the passingof a vector to such individual station, for the communication of a datapacket from such individual station to any station in the sequence otherthan the individual station,means at the individual station forreceiving a vector from the station immediately preceding the individualstation in the sequence, means at the individual station forcommunicating a data packet to any station in the sequence other thanthe individual station after the individual station has received thevector from the immediately preceding station and when the individualstation is included in the sequence, and means at the individual stationfor communicating a data packet to the immediately preceding station inthe sequence, when the individual station is not included in thesequence and when the vector received by the individual station from theimmediately preceding station is intended for a station immediatelyfollowing the individual station in the sequence, that it wishes to bespliced into the sequence, means including a first register at theindividual station for identifying the individual station, meansincluding a second register at the individual station for identifyingthe immediately preceding station in the sequence, and means including athird register at the individual station for identifying the immediatelyfollowing station in the sequence, means at the individual station forpassing the vector to the immediately following station in the sequenceafter the individual station has communicated a data packet to anystation in the sequence other than the individual station, the passingof the vector by the individual station including an identification ofthe individual station from the first register, the stations in thesequence being able to operate in a first mode and particular ones ofthe stations in the sequence being able to operate in a second modedifferent from the first mode, means at the individual station foridentifying the particular ones of the first and second modes in whichthe individual station is capable of operating, and means at theindividual station for identifying the mode in which the individualstation is operating.
 66. In combination in an individual stationincluded in a sequence for the sequential activation on a cyclic basisof the individual station and the other stations in the sequence, theindividual station in the sequence being displaced from the otherstations in the sequence and being activated, upon the passing of avector to such individual station, for the communication of a datapacket from such individual station to any station in the sequence otherthan the individual station, to all of the stations in the sequenceother than the individual station or to a selective group of stations inthe sequence other than the individual station, the selective group ofstations having common characteristics different from thecharacteristics of the other stations in the sequence,means at theindividual station for receiving a vector from the station immediatelypreceding the individual station in the sequence, means at theindividual station for passing a data packet to any station in thesequence other than the individual station after receiving the vector,to all stations in the sequence other than the individual station and tothe selective group of the stations in the sequence other than theindividual station, means at the individual station for passing thevector to the station immediately following the individual station inthe sequence, and means at the individual station for splicing into thesequence a particular station between the individual station and theimmediately following station, when the individual station receives acommunication to this effect from the particular station before thereception by the individual station of any communication from theimmediately following station that the immediately following station hasreceived the vector from the individual station, to pass the vectorthereafter from the individual station to the particular station.
 67. Ina combination in the individual station as set forth in claim 66,meansat the individual station for identifying the individual station, meansat the individual station for identifying the immediately precedingstation,means at the individual station for identifying the immediatelyfollowing station, means at the individual station for communicating itsidentity and the identity of the immediately following station inpassing the vector to the immediately following station, and means atthe individual station for substituting the identity of the particularstation for the immediately following station when the individualstation splices the particular station into the sequence.
 68. In acombination as set forth in claim 66,means at the individual station foradjusting the time of response of the individual station to the time ofresponse of the station having the slowest time of response of all ofthe stations in the sequence.
 69. In combination in an individualstation included in a sequence for the sequential activation on a cyclicbasis of the individual station and the other stations in the sequence,the individual station in the sequence being displaced from the otherstations in the sequence and being activated, upon the passing of avector to such individual station, for the communication of a datapacket from such individual station to any station in the sequence otherthan the individual station,means at the individual station forreceiving a vector from the station immediately preceding the individualstation in the sequence, means at the individual station for passing adata packet to any station in the sequence other than the individualstation after receiving the vector, means at the individual station forpassing the vector to the station immediately following the individualstation in the sequence, and means at the individual station forsplicing into the sequence a particular station between the individualstation and the immediately following station, when the individualstation receives a communication to this effect from the particularstation before the reception by the individual station of anycommunication from the immediately following station that theimmediately following station has received the vector from theindividual station, to pass the vector thereafter from the individualstation to the particular station, means at the individual station foridentifying the individual station, means at the individual station foridentifying the immediately preceding station, means at the individualstation for identifying the immediately following station, means at theindividual station for communicating its identity and the identity ofthe immediately following station in passing the vector of theimmediately following station, means at the individual station forsubstituting the identity of the particular station for the immediatelyfollowing station when the individual station splices the particularstation into the sequence, means at the individual station for adjustingthe time of response of the individual station to the time of responseof the station having the slowest time of response of all of thestations in the sequence, and the data packet passing means at theindividual station passing the data packet to any station other than theindividual station, a group of the stations in the sequence with commoncharacteristics different from those of the other stations in thesequence or all of the stations in the sequence.
 70. In combination inan individual station in a sequence for the sequential activation on acyclic basis of the individual station and the other stations in thesequence, the individual station in the sequence being displaced fromthe other stations in the sequence,means for communicating a datapacket, upon the passing of a vector to such individual station, fromsuch individual station to any station in the sequence other than theindividual station, to all of the stations in the sequence other thanthe individual station or to a selective group of stations in thesequence other than the individual station, the selective group of thestations having common characteristics different from thecharacteristics of the other stations in the sequence, means at theindividual station for receiving a vector from the station immediatelypreceding the individual station in the sequence, means at theindividual station for passing the vector to the station immediatelyfollowing the individual station in the sequence, and means at theindividual station for splicing the immediately following station out ofthe sequence, upon the receipt by the individual station of anindication from the immediately following station after the passing ofthe vector to the immediately following station, of a desire to bespliced out of the sequence and for thereafter passing the vector to thestation immediately after the immediately following station in thesequence.
 71. In a combination as set forth in claim 70,first registermeans at the individual station for indicating the identity of theindividual station, second register means at the individual station forindicating the identity of the immediately preceding station in thesequence, third register means at the individual station for indicatingthe identity of the immediately following station in the sequence, meansoperatively coupled to the first and second register means foridentifying the individual station and the immediately preceding stationin accepting the vector from the immediately preceding station, andmeans operatively coupled to the first and third register means foridentifying the individual station and the immediately following stationin passing the vector from the individual station to the immediatelyfollowing station.
 72. In a combination as set forth in claim 70,meansat the individual station for communicating a data packet to any stationin the sequence other than the individual station after the receipt ofthe vector by the individual station from the preceding station.
 73. Ina combination as set forth in claim 71,means at the individual stationfor replacing in the third register means the identity of theimmediately following station with the identity of the stationimmediately after the immediately following station in the sequence whenthe immediately following station is spliced out of the sequence.
 74. Incombination in an individual station in a sequence for the sequentialactivation on a cyclic basis of the individual station and the otherstations in the sequence, the individual station in the sequence beingdisplaced from the other stations in the sequence,means forcommunicating a data packet, upon the passing of a vector to suchindividual station, from such individual station to any station in thesequence other than the individual station, means at the individualstation for receiving a vector from the station immediately precedingthe individual station in the sequence, means at the individual stationfor passing the vector to the station immediately following theindividual station in the sequence, means at the individual station forsplicing the immediately following station out of the sequence, upon thereceipt by the individual station of an indication from the immediatelyfollowing station after the passing of the vector to the immediatelyfollowing station, of a desire to be spliced out of the sequence and forthereafter passing the vector to the station immediately after theimmediately following station in the sequence, first register means atthe individual station for indicating the identity of the individualstation, second register means at the individual station for indicatingthe identity of the immediately preceding station in the sequence, thirdregister means at the individual station for indicating the identity ofthe immediately following station in the sequence, means operativelycoupled to the first and second register means for identifying theindividual station and the immediately preceding station in acceptingthe vector from the immediately preceding station, means operativelycoupled to the first and third register means for identifying theindividual station and the immediately following station in passing thevector from the individual station to the immediately following station,and means operative at the individual station upon the receipt by theindividual station of the vector from the immediately preceding stationfor communicating a data packet to any station in the sequence otherthan the individual station or to a selected group of stations in thesequence with common characteristics different from those of the otherstations in the sequence or for broadcasting a data packet to all of thestations in the sequence other than the individual station.
 75. Incombination in an individual station included in a sequence for thesequential activation on a cyclic basis of the individual station andthe other stations in the sequence, the individual station in thesequence being displaced from the other stations in the sequence andbeing activated, upon the passing of a vector to such individualstation, for the communication of a data packet from such individualstation to any station in the sequence other than the individualstation,means at the individual station for receiving a vector from thestation immediately preceding the individual station in the sequence,means operative at the individual station upon the receipt of the vectorfrom the immediately preceding station for communicating a data packetto any station in the sequence other than the individual station or to aparticular group of stations in the sequence with common characteristicsdifferent from those of the other stations in the sequence or forbroadcasting a data packet to all of the stations in the sequence otherthan the individual station, means at the individual station for passingthe vector to the station immediately following the individual stationin the sequence after the communication of the data packet by theindividual station, and means operative at the individual station uponthe failure of the immediately following station, or any station betweenthe individual station and the immediately following station in thesequence, to respond to any receipt of the vector within a particularperiod of time, for passing the vector again to the immediatelyfollowing station after such particular period of time.
 76. In acombination as set forth in claim 75,means at the individual station forsplicing into the sequence a particular station immediately after theimmediately following station in the sequence when the immediatelyfollowing station fails to communicate a data packet to another stationwithin a particular time after the second communication of the vectorfrom the individual station to the immediately following station and theparticular station communicates a desire to the individual station to bespliced into the sequence.
 77. In a combination as set forth in claim75,means at the individual station for passing the vector to animaginary station and for providing for the reception of such vector byany of the stations in the sequence other than the individual stationupon the failure of the immediately following station in the sequence toreceive the vector in a particular number of successive passings of thevector from the individual station to the immediately following station.78. In a combination as set forth in claim 77,means at the individualstation for adjusting the time for the operation of the individualstation in passing a data packet to other stations in the sequence tothe time of the station having the slowest time of response of all ofthe stations in the sequence.
 79. In combination in an individualstation included in a sequence for the sequential activation on a cyclicbasis of the individual station and the other stations in the sequence,the individual station in the sequence being displaced from the otherstations in the sequence and being activated, upon the passing of avector to such individual station, for the communication of a datapacket from such individual station to any station in the sequence otherthan the individual station,means at the individual station forreceiving a vector from the station immediately preceding the individualstation in the sequence, means operative at the individual station, uponthe receipt of the vector from the immediately preceding station, forcommunicating a data packet any station in the sequence other than theindividual station or to a particular group of stations in the sequencewith common characteristics different from those of the other stationsin the sequence or for broadcasting a data packet to all of the stationsin the sequence other than the individual station, register means at theindividual station for providing a count indicating a station number forthe individual station relative to a station passing a vector to animaginary station O, and means at the individual station, operative uponthe loss of the immediately preceding station form the sequence and theloss from the sequence of a first particular station immediately beforethe immediately preceding station in the sequence and operative uponeach communication of the vector to the station O from a secondparticular station other than the individual station, the immediatelypreceding station and the first particular station, for decrementing thecount in the register means at the individual station by an integer. 80.In a combination as set forth in claim 79,means operative at theindividual station for communicating to the second particular station adesire to be spliced into the sequence as the station immediately afterthe second particular station in the sequence upon the decrease of thecount of the register means at the individual station to a particularvalue.
 81. In a combination as set forth in claim 79,the register meansat the individual station constituting first register means at theindividual station for identifying the individual station, secondregister means at the individual station for identifying the immediatelypreceding station, third register means at the individual station forindicating the station number relative to the second particular station,means responsive at the individual station to each passing of the vectorby the second particular station to the imaginary station O fordecreasing the count in the third register means by an integer, meanscoupled at the individual station to the register means for identifyingthe second particular station of the desire by the individual station tobe spliced into the sequence as the station immediately after the secondparticular station in the sequence upon the decrease of the count in thethird register means to a particular value, and means at the individualstation for changing the identity in the second register means to thatof the second particular station upon the slicing of the individualstation into the sequence.
 82. In a combination as set forth in claim81,the different stations in the sequence having individual responsetimes, and means at the individual station for adjusting the responsetime of the individual station to communication from and to otherstations to the slowest response time of the different stations in thesequence.
 83. In combination in an individual station included in afirst sequence for the sequential activation on a cyclic basis of theindividual station and the other stations in the first sequence, theindividual station in the first sequence being displaced from the otherstations in the first sequence and being activated, upon the passing ofa vector to such individual station, for the communication of a datapacket from such individual station to any station in the sequence otherthan such individual station,means at the individual station forreceiving a vector from the station immediately preceding the individualstation in the first sequence, means operative at the individual stationupon the receipt of the vector from the immediately preceding station inthe first sequence for communicating a data packet to any station in thefirst sequence other than the individual station or to a selected groupof stations in the first sequence with common characteristics differentfrom those of the other stations in the first sequence or forbroadcasting a data packet to all of the stations in the first sequenceother than the individual station, the individual station beingoperative with other stations in a second sequence different from thefirst sequence, the station following the individual station in thefirst sequence also being operative in the second sequence, and means atthe individual station for passing the vector to the immediatelyfollowing station in the first sequence to maintain the operation of thestations in the first sequence or for passing the vector to theimmediately following station with instructions for the immediatelyfollowing station to operate in the second sequence.
 84. In acombination as set forth in claim 83,means at the individual station formaintaining the operation of the individual station and the immediatelyfollowing station and the other stations in the second sequence bypassing the vector to the immediately following station in the secondsequence in each cycle of operation with instructions to the immediatelyfollowing station to operate in the second sequence.
 85. In acombination as set forth in claim 84,means at the individual station forreturning to the operation in the first sequence and for passing thevector to the immediately following station in the first sequence uponthe failure of the individual station and the immediately followingstation and the other stations in the second sequence to pass the vectorto the stations in the second sequence in a cycle of operation withinstructions to operate in the second sequence.
 86. In a combination asset forth in claim 85,first register means at the individual station foridentifying the individual station, second register means at theindividual station for identifying the immediately preceding station inthe particular one of the first and second sequences in which theindividual station is operating, third register means at the individualstation for identifying the immediately following station in theparticular one of the first and second sequences in which the individualstation is operating, and means at the individual station foridentifying the individual station and the immediately following stationin passing the vector from the individual station to the immediatelyfollowing station in the particular one of the first and secondsequences.